by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
There are many people from all types of cultures who feel the pressure of family. That is not to say that they don’t love their family, and vice versa, but the obligation can be quite a strain on relationships, creating fractures. There are those lined up to work in their family’s business, many of which are restaurants. This can be the situation from a young age, as traditions are passed down. Oddly enough, these rich and meaningful themes are the anchoring elements of the animated film, A Sloth Story.
After their home is destroyed in a storm, a young sloth named Laura (Teo Vergara) and her family move to the big city to sell food made from family recipes, in their beat-up food truck. Laura is willing to help her family, but she has other desires too… like becoming a cricket star! This plot thread is underdeveloped (and mostly forgotten until the final act), as most of the conflict is derived from familial strife, as well as a famous fast food chain run by an ambitious Cheetah voiced by Leslie Jones. The thematic conflict between chain manufacturer food and homemade tradition is the heart of the film. This fast food story spirals into some crazy places, opening the door for a wildly entertaining third act, but the story loses a bit of the logic along the way.
Thankfully, though, the directorial duo of Ricard Cussó and Tania Vincent bring a ton of energy and vibrancy to the film. The animation is engaging, and the frame rate is slowed to give it all a great stop motion vibe. This creates a distinct feel — the color is so vibrant that it brings the film’s world to life.
The father character is charming, with him doing a surprise dance number to avoid laser alarms — this scene captures the film’s fun personality. The final act takes a wild turn, delivering a thrilling action sequence with cool neon lights; this might be wholly unexpected, but it’s a great cherry on top.
But it’s really the cast that gets us invested in this little flick. Vergara gives an endearing performance. She conveys a lot in the heavier emotional moments, especially those between Laura and her mother, Gabriella (Olivia Vásquez). Vergara is matched well by Vásquez, whose performance balances love for her family and poignant frustration with the actions and betrayal of her daughter. Meanwhile, Jones brings fun elements and humor (as you would expect) but there is definitely more to her character. It is refreshing that Jones’ character has more dimension as well. These three are certainly the film’s anchors, but the rest of the ensemble understand the tone and bring joy to the proceedings.
The title of A Sloth Story might leave you thinking the film is an overly simplified, silly flick for the little ones. But think again. It packs rich themes about family obligations and forging your own path. These threads bind our protagonist and antagonist in interesting ways. The animation is excellent, and the story takes the audience (and our characters) to crazy places. With plenty of heart, A Sloth Story is an enjoyable watch for the whole family.
Rating: Liked It
A Sloth Story is currently playing in theaters
You can read more from Shane Conto, and follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd